Poconos prime land for bears

Archery hunters lead the pack this week of those looking to put their tag on a black bear in Pennsylvania.

Archery hunters lead the pack this week of those looking to put their tag on a black bear in Pennsylvania.

Hunters travel from far and wide to pursue bruin among the thousands of acres or prime bear habitat found in the Pocono Plateau Region. Bears love heavy cover. The seclusion offered by the rhododendron and laurel covered hillsides mixed with thickly vegetated wetlands found on our public lands are perfect.

The statewide archery bear season is now under way with the hunters in the woods until Friday. Following this will be the four-day statewide bear season, which will open on Saturday, Nov. 17, and then run from Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 19-21. The extended bear seasons will be held in certain WMUs and portions of WMUs the following week during deer season.

In WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D, an extended bear season will run concurrently with the entire two-week deer season, Nov. 26-Dec. 8. In WMUs 3D (our area), 4C, 4D, 4E, an extended bear season is open Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Bears were taken in 54 counties last year, which was the same as 2008, 2009 and 2010, but an increase from 2007, when bears were taken in 49 counties.

With a bear population that covers more than three-quarters of the state, and includes a number of world-class trophy bears, Pennsylvania has gained recognition as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, there are a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds taken. Since 1992, six bears with an estimated live weight of 800 pounds or more have been legally taken in Pennsylvania.

In 2011, hunters harvested 4,350 bears, which was the highest harvest in Pennsylvania history. In 2005, hunters took 4,164 bears, which was the second highest number. Over the past 10 years, hunters have taken more black bears than in any other decade since the Game Commission began keeping bear harvest records in 1915.

All hunters who harvest a bear must immediately tag it with their field harvest tag that is part of the bear license, and, if during the statewide four-day season or the extended seasons, transport the carcass — minus entrails — to one of the Game Commission bear check stations within 24 hours. During the archery season, hunters must tag the bear in the field and then contact a Game Commission region office within 24 hours to have their bear checked.

Those hunters harvesting a bear during the extended seasons should consult the list of available check stations detailed in the 2012-13 Digest. The days, hours, locations and number of check stations open during the extended seasons may differ from those open during the general season.

The Game Commission has listed in the 2012-13 Digest global positioning coordinates to help find the nearest check station.